Carnegie Shul Chatter

Carnegie Shul Chatter

February Candle lighting time is 5:07 24, 2016

Shabbos services are at 9:20

I Believe

There are a lot of inspirational songs that we sing at our Jewish services. Songs such as Ein Keloheinu, Adon Olam, and l'Cha Dodi often run through my mind even when I am not at shul. But there are also many secular songs about God that have stayed with me through many, many years. They may not be purely Jewish in nature, but the lyrics to these songs also serve as an inspiration to me at times.

Do you remember the TV show, The Children's Corner, with Josie Carey and Fred Rogers on WQED? In 1955 Fred Rogers wrote the music and Josie Carey wrote the lyrics to Goodnight God, a very inspirational song that Josie often performed on The Children's Corner. Fred Rogers also performed the song in later years on Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood.

Shame on You, Norman Greenbaum!

And then there is Spirit in the Sky, a big hit for Norman Greenbaum, who also wrote the song and lyrics. Greenbaum was born and raised Jewish and admits that he is Jewish, but the song contains the lyrics, "Prepare yourself, you know it's a must, Gotta have a friend in Jesus. So you know that when you die, He's gonna recommend you to the spirit in the sky."

Not very Jewish, is it?

Said Greenbaum, "I'm just some Jewish musician who really dug Gospel music. I decided there was a larger Jesus Gospel market out there than a Jehovah one."

I know there are many Jewish performers who have recorded Christmas songs, but this is a little too much isn't it? Shame on you Norman Greenbaum!

Here are the lyrics. Do you remember it?

Goodnight, God, and thank you for this very lovely day. Thank you, too, for helping us at work and at our play. Thank you for our families. For each and every friend. Forgive us, please, for anything we've done that might offend.

Keep us safe and faithful, God. Tell us what to do. Goodnight, God. And thank you, God, for letting us love you. Goodnight, God. And thank you, God, for letting us love you.

Another inspirational song from 1955, a hit for Al Hibbler. Do you remember He?

He can turn the tides and calm the angry sea He alone decides who writes a symphony He lights ev'ry star that makes the darkness bright He keeps watch all through each long and lonely night

He can grant a wish or make a dream come true He can paint the clouds and turn the grey to blue He alone knows where to find the rainbow's end He alone can see what lies beyond the bend

He still finds the time to hear a child's first prayer Saint or sinner calls and always finds him there Though it makes Him sad to see the way we live He'll always say "I forgive"

He can touch a tree and turn the leaves to gold He knows every lie that you and I have told Though it makes Him sad to see the way we live He'll always say "I forgive"

He forgives

In 1953 Frankie Laine had a big hit with the inspirational song, I Believe.

I believe for every drop of rain that falls a flower grows I believe that somewhere in the darkest night a candle glows I believe for everyone who goes astray Someone will come to show the way I believe, I believe

I believe above the storm the smallest prayer will still be heard I believe that someone in the great somewhere hears every word Every time I hear a newborn baby cry Or touch a leaf or see the sky Then I know why I believe

Every time I hear a newborn baby cry Or touch a leaf or see the sky Then I know why I believe (Why I believe)

More recently, this song, composed by Julie Gold, became a big hit for the Divine Miss M, Bette Midler.

From a distance the world looks blue and green And the snow capped mountains white From a distance the ocean meets the stream And the eagle takes to flight

From a distance, there is harmony And it echoes through the land It's the voice of hope, it's the voice of peace It's the voice of every man

From a distance we all have enough And no one is in need And there are no guns, no bombs, and no disease No hungry mouths to feed

From a distance we are instruments Marching in a common band Playing songs of hope, playing songs of peace They're the songs of every man

God is watching us, God is watching us God is watching us from a distance

From a distance you look like my friend Even though we are at war From a distance I just cannot comprehend What all this fighting is for

From a distance there is harmony And it echoes through the land it's the hope of hopes, it's the love of loves It's the heart of every man (Every man)

It's the hope of hopes, it's the love of loves This is the song of every man

And God is watching us, God is watching us God is watching us from a distance Oh, God is watching us, God is watching us God is watching us from a distance

Sabbath of Remembrance

Shabbos Zachor, the Sabbath of Remembrance, will be observed in our shul on Saturday, March 19. This year we will be recognizing one of our founding families, the Klee family, during our services.

Samuel (Selig or Zelig) Klee was one of the original subscribers to the 1903 articles of incorporation of our shul. A native of Austria, Samuel came to this country in 1880 with his first wife, Sadye (Sarah) Klee. By 1890, he had established a grocery business in Carnegie. Samuel Klee died in 1915, at the age of 60. He was survived by his second wife, Sarah Mandelbaum Finkel, four sons, and four daughters. Other families descending from the Klees are the Schwartz, Green, Wasser, Cameron, Simpson, Corin, Mandler, Otts, Gardner, Norris, Epstein, Dunn, Finkel, Sukolsky, Klahr, Cushner, Goldstein, Levinson, Krause, Chaban, Zeman, Weiss, Glantz, and Elyanoff families.

There are twelve yahrzeit plaques on the walls of the Carnegie Shul memorializing Klee family members.

We would love to have as many Klee relatives and descendants as possible attend our Sabbath of Remembrance services. If you know any members of the Klee family, please notify Dr. Larry Block at 412-279-7973 as soon as possible.

Coming Events

South Hills Jewish Pittsburgh, Classrooms Without Borders, and the JCC are sponsoring Israel Today, The State of the Nation and Country, featuring Avi BenHur, Director of Education and Scholar in Residence for Classrooms Without Borders, on Tuesday March 8, at 7 pm, at the JCC. The program is free and open to the public.

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